Work Text:
Jun was not in the mood for this. The deal his team has been working on for months practically fell through today. The client said he wasn’t sure yet and wanted to look over the terms better. Never mind the fact that on Wednesday, two days earlier, the pompous jerk had said everything was perfect.
So he isn’t in the mood for whatever Thame, his best friend and most annoying colleague, wants to do today.
“Come on, Jun. You need to relax after the shitshow that was today.” Thame insists as they go down the elevator.
“After today’s shitshow what I need is to be left alone with a bottle of whiskey so I can fall asleep without overthinking everything.” Jun says. He really feels tired. His week was chaotic, never a moment to rest because of this deal, full of meetings and business dinners always laying on the charm, only to arrive home and pass out from exhaustion.
As they exit the elevator to the main entrance of the company building, Jun continues. “Besides, I need to focus this weekend. I need to go over every detail of this contract so I can be prepared next week. So I can’t stay out late.”
“We won’t be out till late, I promise. It’s just to chill for a bit. I plan to meet with an old friend from school, and then we’ll leave.” Thame tells him as they leave the building. There by the doors, already waiting for them, is Po, Thame’s partner. “P’Po is also coming, so you know I’m serious about not staying for long.”
They all greet each other and Jun scoffs at Thame, who is already cozying up to his boyfriend.
“On top of that, you want me to third wheel? No, thanks.” He rolls his eyes.
Realizing that Jun is still unconvinced, Thame tries another way.
“C’mon, Jun. We’re going to a new bar. It has entertainment, dancers and fancy cocktails. You won’t be a third wheel. Weren’t you complaining just yesterday that you wanted to get laid? Something like ‘I feel like I might explode if I don’t fuck someone in the next 24 hours’.” Thame mimicked Jun with a whiny tone, making Po laugh and Jun almost hit him.
“Ha ha, very funny. No need to expose me like this to P’Po.”
“Don’t tease him too much, Thame.” Po says. “Although I really think you should come, Jun. Thame is right, at least you can relax after this hell week you had. And who knows, you might find some company for tonight.” He winks at him and Jun just sighs in defeat.
“So, what, you want to take me to a strip club? Very classy of you, Thame.”
Thame realizes that’s basically an agreement, so he starts trying to signal a taxi to stop for them.
“It’s not a strip club. It has dancers and the overall vibe is sensual, but it’s not grungy, I swear. P’Po knows the owner.”
Po nods his agreement from Jun’s side. “Yes, Pepper is an old friend. The bar opened not long ago and is thriving.”
Thame finally manages to get a taxi for them and they get in.
“Okay, now I’m curious. Is Pepper the old friend you said you were meeting?” Jun asks.
“No, it’s someone else. He just started working there. I was the one who recommended him to Pepper. He just came back to Bangkok so I want to check in and catch up with him.”
Jun just hums and lays his head back in his seat, watching the city skyline through the window while Thame and Po talk quietly by his side.
***
The taxi stops thirty minutes later on one of the busiest streets of Bangkok on a Friday night, in a district full of bars and clubs. Thame and Po lead the way through the people all dressed up for a night out, and the noise and neon lights were starting to give Jun a headache. He hoped the bar wasn’t far away.
After turning down two alleyways, Thame signals their arrival. They are facing a discreet, dark, wide door, with a dark red sign above that reads “Euphoria”. In front of the door stands a bouncer who has just let two people inside before he looks up and notices them. Despite his intimidating look, he gives them a gentle smile.
“Oh, Khun Po! Back again, already? Khun Pepper is out on an errand, but he’ll be back in no time, I’m sure.”
“Don’t worry, Khun Korn. I didn’t warn him I was coming anyway.” Po says to the gentle giant.
“If I see him, I’ll let him know you’re in there.” The bouncer, Korn, continues. “Now come in, I’ll tell Nong Yara here to take you to the VIP section.” He gestures to a server close by, and she approaches them.
“Thank you so much, Khun Korn. I’ll see you later.” Po smiles at him and they go inside the bar, Thame and Jun bowing to the bouncer and thanking him.
“Wow, P’Po. If I knew I’d get VIP treatment, I would have agreed to come earlier.” Jun teases his friend as they follow the waitress.
They are taken through a short corridor where they can already hear the bass of the song playing in the main area. They emerge into a space that reminds Jun of a cabaret bar he might see only in movies. The area is dimly lit, with dark wood tables and red velvet-lined sofas along the walls, and high tables with stools filling the middle. Almost all the tables are full. The bar is by the side of the entrance, stretching along the wall, full of all kinds of bottles in the back and with a few stools on each side. The waitresses and waiters walking the floor are all dressed elegantly. The masculine outfit consists of a tight red vest and black suit pants with a black bow to finish the look. The feminine look is similar, only with a black tight skirt instead of pants, which some wear shorter and others longer.
Opposite the bar and facing all the tables is the real attraction of the place. Strong lights from all sides illuminate a big stage, with a pole in the middle towards the front that, at that moment, is being used by a woman performing a sensual choreography. She is good, all glitter and softness, but at the same time super sexy. Jun is impressed. He is actually impressed with the overall space and feel of the bar.
The waitress guides them up some stairs on the other side of the bar that lead to what Jun realizes is the VIP section of the place. Being above the overall space, they have a privileged view of the stage.
Thame and Po get comfortable in one of the love seats, while Jun sits down on one of the chairs by their side. They order their drinks and the waitress leaves them.
“This place is impressive, P’Po. If we don’t get to meet him, please tell your friend I’m impressed.” Jun says.
Po just smiles and nods at him and then the three of them face the stage and enjoy the show.
As the second song the girl was performing ends, a drag queen goes up on stage to announce the next performer.
“Hiii! How is everyone enjoying the show tonight?!” She receives excited cheers from the tables below. “I can see you’re having fun! Now our next performer is special, everyone. He’s new here and you are about to witness his very first performance!” She claps and lets the crowd scream out their excitement for a few seconds. “Let me tell you all, from what I’ve seen during practices, he will NOT disappoint you. Let me give the stage to Hong!!”
After her announcement, all the stage lights go out, leaving only the buzzing anticipation of the crowd.
As the first beats for Body Party by Ciara start, a spotlight goes on in the middle of the stage, illuminating a mesmerizing figure. He has grey hair, a bit long and parted in the middle in a carefully styled look. His makeup is done in a way that enhances his small eyes and his full lips. He is wearing a sparkly mesh top with long sleeves, with a black crop top underneath, leaving his slim waist uncovered. He has on black leather shorts with chains hanging and black combat boots. The look is daring and sexy.
Jun can feel Thame and Po talking about something next to him but he can’t take his eyes off the figure on stage. He pulls Jun’s whole focus completely towards him. Jun is stunned as the dancer starts moving. His moves are smooth and sexy, but at the same time fierce. Jun has his eyes glued on him for the whole performance.
When the song ends, Jun finds himself disappointed that the performance also ended. If it were up to him, he could watch this man, Hong, dance all night long.
Hong, breathing heavily from his routine, assumes a position in the center of the stage and bows, thanking the cheering crowd, before leaving the stage, being replaced by the drag queen once again. She is announcing the next performance by someone named Lego, who is apparently a crowd favorite, but Jun’s eyes follow the gray-haired dancer until he disappears backstage, presumably going to the dressing rooms. Jun couldn’t care less about who came next. He was still in awe of what he had watched.
His reaction to that particular performance did not go unnoticed by his friends. A hand waves in front of his face. “Hello! Earth to Jun!” Thame is looking at him all smug and grinning like the Cheshire cat. “Well, someone seemed to enjoy the show.” He shares a look with Po, but before Jun can tell him off for teasing him, someone approaches their table.
“How are you enjoying the shows?” The stranger asks, smiling at them.
“Pepper!” Po exclaims and gets up to hug his friend. Not a stranger after all.
“P’Po! How have you been? And you, Thame? Khun Korn told me I could find you guys up here. It’s pretty crowded tonight so he did well in bringing you up.” Pepper says.
“We’re doing great, P’Pepper! The shows have been great!” Thame answers him, as Po sits back down by his side. Then he introduces the two strangers. “This is my best friend, Jun. Jun, this is Pepper, the owner of the bar we were telling you about.”
They greet each other and Jun immediately compliments him on the bar.
“Thank you, Jun. But, honestly, the credits there go all to my wife, she’s the mastermind behind the theme and decorations.” He says, laughing softly.
That prompts Po to ask how Gam, his wife Jun presumes, is doing and they spend the next ten minutes catching up while sipping their drinks. Jun likes Pepper, he seems like a pretty down-to-earth guy so he can see himself forming a friendship with him.
When there is a lull in the conversation, Pepper gets up from the chair he had sat in. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go to the office to finish sorting out a few things. I’m not sure if I’ll catch you before you leave.”
“Yeah, we probably won’t be here much longer either. Thank you for everything, Pepper.” Po tells him.
Before Pepper can leave though, Thame speaks up. “P’Per, I’ve been meaning to ask you. How has Dylan been doing?”
“Dylan has been great so far, I think. I can tell he’s a hard worker. He’s a bit shy but I think Nano took a liking to him so he’s never alone.” He smiles and shakes his head. “I’ll tell someone to let him know to come up here when he’s done.”
They all wave goodbye to Pepper and Jun finally asks Thame. “Is Dylan the friend you came here to meet?”
“Yeah, that’s him. I hope he’s adjusting well back in Bangkok.” Thame is smiling softly before his smile turns mischievous. “I think you’ll really like him, Jun.”
Jun arches his brow at him but humors him. “And what makes you think that?”
“Nothing. Just a feeling.” Thame shrugs his shoulders and Po snorts from his side. Jun looks at them questioningly but chalks it up to their special couple language.
They ask for more drinks and chitchat while they wait for Thame’s friend to appear. The shows continue down on the stage but Jun can only think about the grey-haired dancer with those plump lips, slender waist, and the sweet happy smile he had on his face after he finished his performance.
***
Dylan has just exited through the backstage door, still breathing heavy after his performance, when he is almost knocked down by a small body throwing himself at him.
“P’DYLAN!!!! You did it! That was amazing!” The skinny octopus wrapping his legs around him turns out to be Nano, his most recent friend and coworker.
Dylan just laughs shyly at him and lets him down gently. “Thank you, Nano. I think it went well. I’m really happy.”
Dylan means it. He hasn’t felt this happy in a long time. He had missed performing like this. He never stopped dancing while he was back in his hometown, but nothing compares to the feeling of preparing a routine and performing it for an audience. He’s still feeling the rush of the performance, his face feels warm and he feels giggly.
“I need to go, now. P’Minny is announcing my turn. We’ll talk after I’m done. See ya in a bit! Mwah!” Nano sends him a kiss and a wink and leaves through the same door where Dylan just came from.
Dylan shouts a belated ‘good luck’ and continues on his way to the dressing room he shares with Nano and a few other male performers. When he enters the room, two guys are getting ready to perform and they both smile at him and compliment him on his show. Dylan thanks them and heads over to his spot.
His mind wanders as he takes off his clothes and makeup. Thame said he would come to meet him today at the bar, but Dylan didn’t see him at any table. He feels a bit disappointed that his friend might not have seen his performance. Dylan wants to thank him for recommending him to Pepper and treating him as if the last time they had spoken was a week before instead of five years ago. He wants to reassure Thame that he appreciates him and did his best tonight.
Dylan is dressed in his usual baggy clothes and is finishing cleaning his makeup off his face when a flushed and sweaty Nano comes inside the dressing room. Dylan smiles widely at him.
“How did it go?”
Nano just pops his hip sassily and looks at him. “Do you even need to ask? Of course I killed it.”
They both laugh at that and sit in companionable silence for a bit as Nano gets changed.
“Do you have any plans today? Going on a date as usual?” Dylan asks Nano.
“What do you mean, do I have any plans today? We’re going out to celebrate your first performance! We need to drink to your success!” Nano says loudly and, before Dylan can reply, one of the waiters knocks on the door and enters the dressing room, excusing himself.
“Sorry to interrupt! N’Dylan, Khun Pepper asked to tell you there is someone waiting to see you in the VIP area. Great show, by the way!”
Dylan nodded and thanked the waiter, who just waved them goodbye and left the room.
“Aw, did you have someone come watch you and didn’t tell me anything?” Nano asks him, pouting a bit at the mirror.
“It’s probably my friend. He said he wasn’t sure he’d be able to come tonight. And I didn’t see him in the crowd, so I just assumed he didn’t make it. I didn’t even think of looking up at the VIP tables.”
Nano throws him a sly look as he retouches his makeup.
“So… who is this ‘friend’?” He asks as he mimics quotation marks with his hands. “He came to see your performance, he’s rich since he’s in the VIP section… is there something you want to tell your friend, Khun Dylan?”
Dylan just rolls his eyes at Nano and explains.
“No, nothing like that. He’s an old friend from school with whom I hadn’t talked for years before coming back to Bangkok.” He points a finger at Nano’s face and leans closer. “He has a long-time partner, so don’t even get any ideas in your head.” That just makes Nano jokingly pout in disappointment at him. Dylan leans back in his chair and sighs. “Thame’s partner is the one who knows Khun Pepper, so I owe them both for recommending me and getting me this job. That’s probably why they are in the VIP area.”
At that moment, Nano finishes what he was doing, so he gets up abruptly and claps his hands together.
“Okay! Let’s do this! We’ll go meet your friend upstairs, let you catch up for a bit, and then we’ll go out to celebrate!”
Before Dylan can even voice any objection, Nano continues. “And I won’t take no for an answer! I want to meet this friend of yours, and then we need to toast to your success! I know the perfect club for this!”
Dylan just shakes his head and resigns himself to a night out. At least he knows he will have fun. With Nano, there is not a moment he would be bored. Besides, he wants to celebrate his first successful performance, the job he got, and the new friendship he formed with Nano.
When Nano finishes cleaning up his spot on the vanity and they both store their outfits in the closet, they leave the dressing room and head up the stairs to the VIP section.
“You should have left the makeup on since we’re going out! I worked so hard on it!” Nano tells him.
“Well, if you had told me sooner that you wanted to go to a club, I would have left it! I’m also not exactly dressed up for it.” Dylan says, gesturing to his large t-shirt.
“Oh, you look fine! You can rock anything with that face of yours.” Nano teases and winks at him.
They reach the top of the stairs, and Dylan sees Thame sitting on a loveseat not very far, cuddling with his boyfriend. He smiles widely at the sight.
“Thame!”
Thame looks up at his name and smiles brightly at Dylan.
“Dylan!” He gets up from the couch and rushes to hug him, bombarding him with questions. “How are you? That show was amazing! I loved it! Are you liking working here? Are they treating you well? You look so good with your grey hair!”
He only stops talking when Po joins them and touches his shoulder. “Thame, calm down. He can’t even keep up with your questions.” He laughs at Thame and smiles gently at Dylan. “Hi! I’m Po. You can call me P’Po. Nice to finally meet you, Dylan.” He greets Dylan.
Thame blushes and looks embarrassed at Po. Dylan smiles shyly at both of them.
“Nice to meet you too, P’Po. Thank you for coming to watch me. I’m glad you liked it.” He smiles widely at Thame, that cute smile that hides his eyes.
“Of course! I said I’d come!” Thame looks at Nano, who is watching them happily from Dylan’s side. “Oh! You’re one of the performers too, right? Are you Dylan’s friend?”
Nano steps forward and introduces himself to both of them. “I’m Nano, and yes, I am a dancer here too! Thank you for coming today!” He loops his arm through Dylan’s and leans on him. “And I also need to thank you for bringing Dylan here and into my life!” That makes Dylan blush and splutter, but Thame and Po just smile happily at them.
Thame then gestures to the couch they had gotten up from and the chairs around it. “Come on, let’s sit for a bit and talk!”
Thame and Po resettle in their seats, and Dylan and Nano sit on the loveseat across from them. That’s when Dylan notices there is someone else sitting at their table. Someone who is staring right at him with a shocked look on his face.
Dylan squints his eyes at him and can’t help but feel the heat rise in him at the intense look this guy is giving him, so he lashes out. “What are you looking at? Never seen a dancer before?”
The guy is visibly surprised at being addressed like that, but recovers fast, putting on a smirk.
“What, a person can’t look at something they find pretty?”
That makes Dylan scoff at him and roll his eyes in annoyance. Thame interrupts before things escalate. He knows Dylan can get angry fast, and Jun won’t back down easily.
“So, Dylan, this is my good friend Jun. He came with us today to relax before the weekend. Jun, this is Dylan, the friend I told you we came here to see.” Ending the introductions, Thame looks all smug at Jun, who gives him a nasty look. Jun realizes that Thame and Po probably noticed his reaction to Dylan’s performance and are teasing him. Dylan is just confused by the looks they keep sharing and gets annoyed by Jun instantly.
“Didn’t they announce your name as Hong just now? What’s with the two names?”
If looks could kill, Jun would be a pile of ashes on the ground at that moment.
“Hong is just a stage name for the show, obviously. Use your head, buddy.” Dylan tells him, all sass and provocation.
But that only spurs Jun on even more.
“Well, can I also get a special name just for me, sweetheart?” Jun flirts and, to his amusement, Dylan just leans back on the couch, scoffs at him, and looks to the other side, intent on ignoring his existence.
However, the other three can see a small, reluctant smile on Dylan’s lips that he tries to smooth over.
The group spends the next hour chatting to each other while having some drinks. Thame and Dylan manage to catch up on their lives, and Dylan is determined not to let them drift apart again. Nano quickly becomes acquainted with the other three, being the fun, charismatic extrovert he is, asking Po about his job and then his hobby of photography. After an off-hand comment from Dylan, Nano questions Thame about his talent for singing and if he ever thought about performing more seriously. Seeing Thame and Po tease Jun about his reluctance to work or even come to the bar, Nano decides to tease Jun about his apparent laziness and tendency to procrastinate. At some point, Pepper joins them again as well, complimenting Dylan on his performance and making conversation with all of them.
Dylan is really happy that his friends from both sides are getting along so well.
For Dylan, the only downside to that moment is the presence of Jun. Jun, who teases him every opportunity he possibly can. Jun, who inserts Dylan into a conversation with a mocking comment even when Dylan is drinking quietly or talking with someone else. Jun, whom Dylan can’t stop stealing glances at. Jun, who sometimes is caught staring right back at him, so he flashes a cocky smirk that makes Dylan want to smack it off his face.
After a while, Po states he needs to take a tipsy Thame home to rest. That’s when Lego gets up as if just remembering his previous plans.
“Dylan!! We should get going too! My friends should already be there!”
“Hum? Where are you going now?” Jun asks Nano, and then looks at Dylan with a teasing smirk. “Shouldn’t you be getting your beauty sleep, hum?”
Dylan rolls his eyes at Jun, and Nano answers for him.
“We’re going to a club to celebrate Dylan’s first performance! He practiced super hard and did amazing, so he deserves to chill and let go for the night.” Lego sends him a suggestive look. Then his look turns mischievous, and he turns to Jun again. “Do you want to come with us?”
Dylan chokes on the drink he was finishing and turns his shocked eyes to Nano. He side-eyes Jun’s devious gaze before he whispers-shouts his distaste of this idea to Nano.
“Nano! What the hell are you talking about?”
But Nano only ignores him and speaks to the whole group. “Does anyone want to come with us? It’s a fun gay club I go to with my friends!” Nano asks as if his first question was always for the whole group. Dylan just rolls his eyes at his antics. He doesn’t actually expect anyone to want to come with them. Thame looks beyond tipsy and tired, Po needs to take care of him, Pepper is their boss and probably going home to his wife, and Jun… well Jun is just an acquaintance, why would he go with them?
Po gives the expected answer, struggling as he carries a buzzed Thame, who keeps making sure that Dylan will stay in touch as they say their goodbyes.
Dylan thanks Pepper for everything, and Nano hugs him goodbye as he goes home to his wife.
Then, Nano looks expectantly at Jun while Dylan tries to look anywhere else.
“I’ll go with you guys.”
Dylan whips his head to look at Jun and finds his taunting eyes already on him, that half smirk still not leaving his lips. Nano just giggles by his side, clearly enjoying the chaos he created.
“Why would you do that??” Dylan can’t control his astonishment.
“C’mon, Dylan. I also need to relax after a hell of a week.” Jun pouts at him, making Dylan close his eyes and take a breath to not roll his eyes at him again. The way things are going, if Jun comes with them, his eyes will become permanently loose in his eye sockets.
“Come on, P’Dylan! Jun seems like fun, so let’s all just go together and have fun!” Nano says as he starts pushing them both down the stairs and towards the exit. Dylan just stops arguing with his excited friend and ignores Jun as much as he can. Dylan ignores him while the three of them are waiting for a taxi outside Euphoria, feeling Jun’s eyes on him but only talking to Nano. He ignores him when they are in the backseat of the taxi, because of course, Nano just had to sit in the front to talk to the driver, leaving them in an awkward silence the whole drive. He ignores him while they stand in line at the entrance to the club, and Dylan pretends to be people-watching and analysing his surroundings, while sneakily watching Nano and Jun talking and laughing with each other.
When they finally get inside, Nano leads them to the corner of the dance floor where his group of friends are gathered and introduces them to them. Dylan thanks them for their congratulations and Jun immediately turns on his charm to flirt with them.
Clubbing is definitely not Dylan’s thing, but he used to enjoy it once in a while with friends. The club is packed full of dancing bodies, the air hot, making his skin damp almost immediately upon arrival. The music is loud and energetic and the lights are bouncing off the walls in a mix of colours that doesn’t stop changing. The mood is chaotic and fun, and Dylan can feel himself start to relax. Nano is right, he deserves the night, he deserves to celebrate.
He goes with Nano to the bar on the other side to order drinks for the three of them, Jun staying behind to chat with the others. They only manage to speak when they finally lean against the bar and wait for the bartender’s attention.
“So…what will you do about P’Jun?” Nano goes straight to the point.
Dylan feigns ignorance. “What about Jun? You were the one who dragged him here, now you deal with him.”
“He didn’t come here for me, though.” Nano winks at him and leans forward to get the attention of the close by bartender. He flirts while asking for the drinks and then turns to Dylan again.
“C’mon, P’Dylan. The man has been flirting with you the whole night.” At Dylan’s disbelieving face, Nano turns a bit more serious. “I’m not messing with you. P’Jun hasn’t taken his eyes off you since we appeared in the VIP area. Take the chance. You can let loose tonight.”
Dylan still looks uncertain. “I just… I wasn’t sure… I haven’t been with someone in so long…”
“It’s okay. No pressure, P’Dylan!” Nano squeezes his shoulder and grabs the drinks the bartender slid before them. He hands Dylan his drink, along with Jun’s. “You can just talk, or just dance, or more. Whatever you want! But trust me, if you do want more, I’m 100% sure P’Jun will be up for it.” Nano reassures him, waggling his eyebrows in a comically suggestive expression, making Dylan laugh at him.
When they return to their group of friends, Jun seems to have already been looking for them, showing a happy smile when he sees them.
Dylan stops next to him and hands him his drink. “Are you that thirsty? You look so happy to have your drink finally.” He almost has to scream to be heard.
“Oh, darling. I’m not smiling because of the drink.” Jun remarks, looking straight at Dylan and taking a sip of his fruity concoction.
Dylan ignores what he just said and frowns at his drink. “How can you drink that without gaining diabetes? I swear the bartender mixed half a sugar pack there.”
Jun just smirks at him and leans close to talk directly in his ear. “If you’re that curious, I’ll let you taste it… However you want.” Dylan can feel Jun’s hot breath hitting his ear and neck. It gives him goosebumps and leaves his body feeling hot. He turns his blushing face to the other side and tries to insert himself in a conversation between Nano and another friend, pretending Jun didn’t say anything and willing himself to calm down.
Nano realizes that something happened by the way Dylan is stammering into the conversation and by the burning look Jun is giving him, but he doesn’t say anything. He just wants Dylan to have fun, and if it involves the hunk of a man they met today, then even better.
A couple of hours and a few drinks later, Dylan is feeling pleasantly buzzed, limbs loose and head in the clouds. He doesn’t need to drink anything more, he’ll happily spend the rest of the night dancing in this floating place. Nano hasn’t had enough, though, so he takes his friends to have a round of shots by the bar, leaving Jun and Dylan alone in their corner.
Dylan keeps dancing, but he can’t help but look at Jun from under his lashes. At some point during the night, the DJ started playing with water guns, so the people closest to the stage got wet. Dylan has gotten a fair bit wet himself, the fresh water a relief from the heat of the bodies around him, but he thinks it’s unfair that Jun also got wet. Dylan couldn’t stop looking at him.
Jun had discarded his dress shirt at some point, so he is only wearing a wet white tank top that is plastered to his body and leaves nothing to the imagination. His defined abs and arms give the impression that he likes working out, but isn’t obsessed with it. His wet brown hair clings to his forehead, making him have to swipe it back with his hands once in a while, revealing his forehead. His damp face and shoulders reflect the lights going all around them, and his eyes look at Dylan with an intensity he can’t even fully comprehend.
Jun can’t stop looking at Dylan’s ethereal form, dancing under the strobe lights, moving his body like nobody is watching. Or maybe like only Jun is watching.
Jun, emboldened by the looks Dylan has been giving him all night, slides closer to him and starts dancing with him. They dance facing each other for a few songs, the air between them sizzling and their eyes never straying from each other's faces and bodies. And then, Dylan turns his back to him in a sort of half twirl, puts his hands up in the air, eyes closed and face turned up to the ceiling. So Jun takes the chance and gets closer, plastering his front to Dylan’s back, grabbing his waist with his hands. They grind together like that for a while. Jun leans forward and inhales the scent of Dylan’s sweat and leftover cologne from his neck. Dylan’s arms drop down and wrap around Jun’s neck, his hands pushing his head forward and his fingers pulling the hairs at the back of Jun’s head, encouraging him. Jun’s arms fully encircle Dylan’s torso, one hand staying around his waist and the other going up and grabbing his throat. At the same time, he brushes kisses along the side of Dylan’s neck, as far down as he can reach and then back up again. Jun can feel Dylan melting at his actions. One of Dylan’s hands leaves his neck and grabs Jun’s thigh, as if he needs to hold on to something else.
Jun kisses along Dylan’s jawline and up to his ear, where he whispers for him to turn around. Dylan obeys, his eyes glazed and pupils dilated by desire. His body feels hot both from his energetic dancing before and from his sensual dancing with Jun, his blood pumping through his veins.
With his hands around Dylan’s waist and Dylan’s hands over his shoulders, Jun pulls him closer and asks him. “Can I kiss you?”
Dylan can barely hear him through the thumping music, the haze of alcohol, and his blood rushing in his ears. But he can make out the word kiss on Jun’s lips, and the look Jun sends him tells him everything he needs to know. So he ponders for just a second before he nods, deciding that he wants to have fun and continue to enjoy this night.
As soon as he gets permission, Jun slams his lips onto Dylan’s, letting his desperation show as he tries to devour Dylan’s lips.
Dylan gives as good as he gets, fighting for dominance of the kiss. And then Jun squeezes his waist, which makes him open his mouth in a moan and allows Jun to explore his mouth and start sucking on his tongue. At that point, the only thing Dylan can do is hold on tight to Jun’s neck, periodically pull his hair, moan, and swallow his groans.
Jun alternates between biting Dylan’s upper and bottom lips. He explores Dylan’s mouth with his tongue before he pulls back and trails kisses along his throat, as far down as he can reach. Then Jun licks Dylan’s damp neck back up to his lips and resumes the attack on Dylan’s mouth.
They stay in their little private bubble, talking, dancing, making out until their lips are bruised, and grinding together for the rest of their night out. Until it’s 6 am and the club is closing and they are stumbling outside, leaning on each other while calling a taxi.
As they reach his apartment, Jun already feels more sober than when they left the club, so he makes Dylan drink some water and wash his face. Jun leads him to his room, where he puts him on his bed, taking his shoes off and covering him up.
Jun goes to drink water himself and takes a quick shower, before lying next to Dylan and cuddling up to him.
When he wakes up the next morning, he’s alone in his bed with the memories of last night, the feeling of Dylan’s lips on his own, and the soft smell of Dylan’s cologne on his bedsheets.
***
After that night, Jun develops a new routine. He starts spending his Friday and Saturday nights at the bar. The first time he returns there alone, he sits at one of the barstools by the bar, a bit far away from the stage, but it allows him to chat with the bartender while he waits for his show. As soon as Dylan steps on stage, Jun’s whole attention is pulled to him. Jun watches his performance, without breaking his focus from beginning to end, and then he pays for his drink and leaves.
Jun does this the next Saturday, the Friday after that, and then the next Saturday until, finally, one night during his performance, Dylan notices him sitting in that barstool. At first, Jun is not sure if Dylan really saw him or recognized him because his face didn’t change and he continued with his performance perfectly until the end. But then, after his routine ends and he bows to thank the crowd, Dylan looks at the bar and their eyes meet, before Dylan leaves the stage and a smirking Jun behind.
After that, Jun starts sitting at a table near the front of the stage, making sure Dylan knows he’s there watching him. He watches every one of Dylan’s performances. Dylan varies between three main dance routines but, from time to time, he comes up with a different one to perform. Jun’s favorite is still the first one he watched. His outfits feel like they are meant to provoke Jun. Sometimes, Dylan wears something like the first time he saw him, something sheer and shiny. Other times, he wears a crop top with a belly chain that leaves Jun’s hands tingling from his desire to wrap the around his waist again. One time he wears an oversized shirt that hangs from one of his shoulders leaving his collarbone and neck exposed. Jun always leaves the bar with his heart beating loudly in his chest and a smoldering feeling from his neck down. All he can think about is the way Dylan’s skin felt under his hands that night and how soft his lips are. All he can think about is how much he wants to feel those plump lips on his skin again and how much he wants to hold his waist.
Dylan always barely glances over him during his dancing, not breaking character and flawlessly finishing his performance. But when it ends and when he’s about to leave the stage, he always steals a heated glance at Jun, who always looks back at him with an intensity that surprises even himself. He’s never been this infatuated with someone, never this obsessed to the point of spending his precious weekend nights just watching him.
One Saturday night, Jun meets Pepper on the way into the bar. They talk for a bit before Pepper invites Jun up to sit in the VIP area again. Jun will not deny himself the more comfortable seats and the better view, so he accepts his invitation and catches up with Pepper while he waits for Dylan’s show. When he finally begins his performance, Jun is alone at the table, since Pepper had to go take care of something in his office. Which is good because Jun wouldn’t be able to keep up a conversation with him anyway. As he watches Dylan, he notices that something seems…wrong. Not with Dylan’s performance, that is going as smoothly as always in his eyes. But Dylan seems off, somehow. His eyes keep wandering, not really focusing on anything… And that’s when Jun realizes. Dylan is looking for him. His eyes keep jumping from table to table and along the walls while he dances because he is searching for Jun. This leaves Jun feeling butterflies in his belly and extremely pleased.
By the end of his performance, Dylan has a frown on his face, and he almost looks like he’s pouting, but as soon as he finishes bowing to the crowd, Jun gets up from his table and leans over the balcony. The movement catches Dylan’s attention and he looks up. When he catches Jun smirking at him, he looks surprised, and then he looks flustered before hurrying off the stage.
Jun spends the whole of the next week daydreaming about Dylan, how sweet and pretty the blush looks on his face, and how he wants to put it there again.
Friday night, Jun returns to the table by the stage. He wants Dylan to be able to see him clearly, and he also wants to be closer to Dylan, to watch his expressions as he dances, his little smiles as he enjoys himself, the way his makeup always makes him shine, and his eyes sparkle. That night, Dylan’s dance is extremely sensual and Jun feels like he is dancing only for him. He periodically glances at him, his eyes hooded, while doing those smooth body rolls and moving his hand from his neck to his waist, caressing himself, making Jun wish Dylan was stroking his chest with that elegant hand. Dylan ends that performance looking right at him with a look burning with desire, a direct call to Jun for them to end this game they’ve been playing for weeks.
When Dylan is bowing and thanking the crowd, Jun gets up from the table, intent on making his way to the dressing rooms to finally talk to Dylan, even if he has to get Pepper to give him access backstage. However, a commotion from the stage stops him and he looks back at it. An obviously intoxicated man is almost fully climbing the stage while grabbing onto one of Dylan’s legs, shouting his stage name and other incomprehensible nonsense. Dylan just looks frozen in shock. The whole scene gets Jun’s blood boiling in an instant but before he can get close enough to yank the man away from Dylan, the drag queen presenter, P’Minny as Jun has learned is her name, appears on stage and proceeds to kick the drunk man in the face while shouting at him not to mess with her boys. A few seconds after that, three security guards appear and escort the man and his two equally drunk friends to the exit. Meanwhile, Dylan is no longer on stage, and Jun now must find him and make sure he is alright.
When Jun reaches the door to access the dressing rooms, he is blocked by an angry-looking security guard.
“No outsiders.” The man grunts at Jun.
“Listen, I’m a friend of Khun Pepper and Dylan. I just want to talk to him and make sure he’s okay.” Jun tries to explain, but the security guard still doesn’t acknowledge him.
“I have no permission from Khun Pepper. Leave before I kick you out.”
Jun understands his suspicion because of what just happened, but he’s desperate to see Dylan. Before he can insist and probably get himself kicked out of the bar with a bruised lip, the door opens and Nano comes out.
“Oh, I was going to look for you.” He says to Jun, before turning to the security guard. “It’s okay, P’Joss. He’s a friend and Dylan needs to talk to him. I’ll take him inside, don’t worry.” Nano winks at the man and can’t help but flirt a little bit. “Thank you for protecting us. If I need anything, I’ll let you know.”
Jun is impatient so he ignores Nano’s flirting and starts walking through the corridor, before he remembers he doesn’t know where to go, so he turns back to an amused Nano catching up to him.
“You’re in a hurry.”
Jun ignores him. “Did he really ask to talk to me?”
Nano releases a soft laugh.
“No.”
At Jun’s confused look, Nano sighs and speaks more seriously.
“He’s shaken up by that whole thing just now. He said he’s fine and wants to be alone and won’t talk to me. But I don’t think he should be alone.” Nano frowns to himself. “It’s the first time this has happened to him, so I guess he’s surprised.” He quickly glances at Jun’s pensive face and keeps walking to the dressing room. “I know what happened between you guys that night, and I know about the whole dance you have going on right now.”
Hearing that, Jun gets a bit flustered and looks at him sheepishly. They stop in front of the door to the room.
“You’ve been pursuing him and flirting with him for weeks, and I can tell just from your looks that you are obsessed with P’Dylan. If you really like him, just talk to him and figure it out.” Nano grabs and squeezes his shoulder, before turning and leaving through where they came from, probably to go and give his own performance.
Jun knocks on the door and enters just as Dylan answers. “Nano, I said I’m fine. Aren’t you supposed to be on stage now?” He stops talking when he looks up at the mirror and sees Jun reflected back, as he’s closing the door.
Jun stands by the door and looks at Dylan.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Dylan forces out with a frustrated tone.
Jun walks closer to him as he fidgets with the skincare products on the vanity table. Dylan has a scowl on his face, and Jun realizes that he hasn’t changed his clothes from his performance and hasn’t taken his makeup off yet.
Jun stops behind Dylan’s chair and watches him in the mirror. He looks even prettier up close, his eyeliner and sparkles highlighting his cute eyes, and his lip gloss making his lips look even softer and thicker. But the furrow between his eyebrows and the look in his eyes show that he’s at least a little bit affected by what happened.
Dylan can feel Jun staring at him. It annoys him. “What do you want, Jun? I’m not-”
“Are you okay?”
Dylan looks up at Jun in surprise.
“I saw what happened back there. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to stop him before he touched you.”
“It wasn’t your fault. I’m just shocked because I was caught by surprise. I didn’t even realize he had gotten so close to me. I was looking somewhere else.” Dylan sighs and blushes a little.
Jun realizes he’s probably embarrassed because he was looking at him and not paying attention to his surroundings. Although pleased, Jun still wants to make sure he’s alright.
“He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
Dylan scoffs and reiterates.”No, he just grabbed my pants. And P’Minny showed up quickly. I'm honestly fine. I was just a bit surprised by how quickly it happened.” He rolls his eyes at Jun, his cheeks still rosy.
“Good. Those drunkards should be glad I wasn’t the one who dealt with them.” Jun says jokingly.
Dylan just side-eyes him. “Hum-hum, sure thing, hot stuff. Anyways, why are you here? Who let you in?”
“Nano came out the door as I was trying to get in.” Jun smirks at Dylan. “He told the guard you were feeling shocked by what happened and needed to talk to me urgently.”
Dylan squints his eyes at him, not knowing if he should believe a word that’s coming out of Jun’s mouth. He just murmurs to himself. “Nano should just mind his own business…”
Jun laughs softly at his response, but decides to be serious and finally get to the point. No more dancing around each other. No more exchanging looks and nothing else.
“Well, I was going to come find you anyway. We need to talk.”
Dylan knows where this conversation is going, so he turns his chair around to face Jun. But that doesn’t mean he’ll give in easily.
“What do you want to talk about?” He arches a brow at Jun.
“Come on, Dylan…”
“What? You said you want to talk. No one’s stopping you.”
“Don’t give me that attitude now. You were all but begging me to follow you at the end of your performance today.”
He sighs as Dylan prepares himself to continue their bickering. Jun is not in the mood for more push and pull, however. He realizes he needs to be direct now or Dylan won’t take him seriously and won’t talk to him openly.
“Dylan.” Jun interrupts whatever nonsense the other man was saying. “I’ve been coming to this bar every single friday and saturday just to watch you dance.”
Dylan’s eyes widened at Jun’s seriousness.
“I’ve been obsessed with you ever since we met. Ever since I saw you dance on stage and didn’t know who you were. And then we went to the club and I got to watch you dance up close. And you let me dance with you, closer and closer. And then more and more.”
Jun’s mouth feels dry and he swallows before continuing.
“I miss feeling your body against mine. I miss talking with you. Because we did talk a lot that night. And I want to get to know you better.”
Jun is done with his improvised speech for now, so he just looks at Dylan for his reaction.
Dylan is speechless. He never thought Jun would be so straightforward with his intentions. He thought they would be spending a few more weeks, at least, skirting around their feelings. Dylan wasn’t even sure that Jun had any feelings for him until now. But all those heated looks that Dylan only got glimpses of as he danced were real.
Dylan gets up from the chair, standing close to Jun, and puts his arms over his shoulder.
“I thought you’d never ask, pretty boy.”
Jun relaxes in relief and grins back at Dylan. “Who are you calling pretty, princess? That should be my line. I know I’m handsome, no need to look for other words.” Jun squeezes Dylan’s waist teasingly, his words cocky.
Dylan rolls his eyes at Jun’s confidence, but now it’s mostly not in annoyance.
“Hum…” He wraps his arms around Jun’s neck even more, bringing them even closer. “You said you missed feeling my body against yours… I missed your hands on my waist…”
Jun hums his agreement and pulls Dylan’s waist closer to his with his arms wrapped around his waist.
Dylan continues. “I also missed your lips on mine… what will you do about it?”
“Hum…” Jun looks up for an instant as if he’s trying to think about it before he smirks at Dylan. He slides his hands under Dylan’s loose top, cradling his warm waist directly. “What do you want me to do?”
Dylan surges forward and slams his lips against Jun’s. He’s done teasing himself. They start making out aggressively right there in the dressing room, hands roaming bodies and exploring. Dylan turns them around and pushes Jun until he sits on the vanity table with his legs slightly open, with just enough space to accommodate him between them. They separate to take a breath and Dylan looks down at Jun’s face. He looks wrecked, eyes glazed and lips swollen and bruised, as he gazes back up at Dylan. Dylan thinks he also can’t look any better.
Dylan is just about to continue his assault when the door opens behind him and Nano makes his presence known.
“P’Dylan, are you sti- aaaaargh my eyes!” He covers his eyes with his hands dramatically as Dylan just rolls his eyes at him and pulls Jun up to stand.
“Are you guys decent?” Nano peeks through a couple of fingers as he asks.
Jun recovers his senses quickly and starts laughing at the youngest’s dramatics.
Nano swiftly stops with his innocent act. “Took you guys long enough! I just came in to check if you weren’t full on having sex in here.” That makes Jun laugh out loud. “If you really want to finish what you started, I’ll keep watch outside.” He winks at them with a saucy look on his face.
“Nano…” Dylan doesn’t even know what more to say.
“Come on, princess. Let me take you out to eat something and then we can continue where we left off.” Jun says and pecks a blushing Dylan on the cheek, pulling him out of the dressing room, leaving a cheering Nano behind.